← Unashamed with the Robertson Family
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- [00:00]
Narrator/Advertiser
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Jason
Oh, such a clutch off season pickup Dave.
- [00:33]
Zach
I was worried we'd bring back the same team.
- [00:35]
Jason
I meant Those blackout motorized shades lines.com made it crazy affordable to replace our old blinds. Hard to install? No, it's easy. I installed these and then got some for my mom.
- [00:44]
Zach
She talked to a design consultant for.
- [00:46]
Jason
Free and scheduled a professional measure and install hall of Fame son. They're the number one online retailer of custom window coverings in the world. Blinds.com is the goat.
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Al
Visit blinds.com now for up to 45%.
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Jason
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Zach
Rules and restrictions apply. I am unashamed. What about you?
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Jason
Welcome back to Unashamed. It was great because I preached yesterday and mom especially likes to come when I'm preaching. But she'll come. She likes to come anytime. But you know, it's kind of hard for her to get around now. It depends on the weather and other things.
- [01:23]
Zach
But she did show up without a wheelchair, which is the first time.
- [01:27]
Jason
That's why I wanted to mention it, J that she first time she's trusted just coming in with a walker and getting around herself. But she's doing so amazingly well. And the most off thing I get asked either by some of you online or directly if we run into each other is how is Ms. K? So I like to give you an update every once in a while. And she's doing fantastic. I mean, she is.
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Zach
And now you're not going to believe this. She told me yesterday because I had my friend that we talked last podcast about, Ian, the military guy. Ty was there and, and he was like, man, I can't believe how well your mom is doing because she sat right behind us and I said, well, Ms. K, tell him why you're doing so well. She's like, well, the Lord has just decided that he's not done with me yet. So I thought that was a great answer. And she said, I got a new house, which is a little house in our compound and she said, and that deer you're bringing me. And I was like, what's the story on that? I was like, well, I've been cooking deer and bringing them to her. And she has elevated that into the trinity of recovery, the fried backstrap.
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Jason
Backstrap goes a long way to healing. There should be a lot.
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Zach
I was like, I had no idea, Ms. Gay, how. Well, because, I mean, we bring her a lot of food. And because my family, we are food snobs. And because we've just. We don't eat out. And that's partly because, I guess when you become famous, if you go eat out in a restaurant, you're already going down in value because what we're cooking is better than any restaurant.
- [03:14]
Jason
We could have a restaurant.
- [03:15]
Zach
Yeah. And then you're kind of being, you know, it turns into kind of a meet and greet while you're trying to eat, which is just not the greatest surroundings. So we just, you know, you learn how to cook and eat well. But boy, she. She had missed that deer, that fried backstrap. Because my dad, he ate that during this time of year, every other meal. And so. But the key to that is because you're like, well, what's. Because that old Ty was looking around, he's like, what was the key? So I cooked it for him while he was here.
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Jason
And then he got it, didn't he?
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Zach
I said, the key is to start.
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Al
Off with a small deer.
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Jason
Yeah.
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Zach
Because they're just better. And that's. I'm not ashamed of that.
- [03:55]
Jason
Exactly. So we. She has folks that. Some folks that sit with her and, you know, just making sure she gets around good, doesn't fall, and. But they become part of the family. And the lady that was here this weekend is a sweet, sweet lady, miss Angela. And she's just part of the family now.
- [04:16]
Zach
She is. What's weird is what, you know, Ms. K said, I want to introduce you to my best friend in the world. I was like, I know Angela. So even though she's doing better, she has moments of like, remember when I brought you that deer? Ms. Angela was sitting there.
- [04:36]
Jason
I tell my view yesterday that. So Ms. Angela came with mom after I preached. It was the first time she had heard me preach. So she. She was telling me about my sermon, Ms. Angela, and how much she liked it because she has her own church, you know, But. But she's been with mom on the weekends, so it's been great to have her. So they came over to our house and had lunch afterwards, and we watched football yesterday because Mom's ca down, so we can't get her football over there. So she came to my house yesterday to watch a couple of playoff games. And so I told Mom. We were laughing because, like you said, mom is doing great, but she does have dementia. She's been diagnosed, and so she'll have these moments. But I told her, I said, mom, the good thing about your dementia, because I told her a joke that I told her, like, last week I was here. It was a stupid preacher joke, but she laughs every time the same. I said, you know the best thing about telling jokes to people with dementia? They laugh every time because it's the first time they've ever heard. But she really is doing great and it's been fun. And I know a lot of you have been praying for her, and I just want you to know the prayers at word. She, you know, like anybody that. I mean, she and dad have been together for over 60 years. And so I think none of us realize just how hard that is to say so long for a while by your. The soulmate, the person you spent your whole life with. So just the grieving process itself is hard enough to get over. But then when you're sick physically and some mentally on top of that, that's a hard. It's a hard thing to deal with.
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Zach
So it took a while. It is. It made me think about where we're at in First John, which I don't know if we've done a few overviews of First John. We're trying to wrap our heads around it with you together. And he seems to, you know, have built this sermon around life, light and love, which is kind of the DNA of God that John recorded in the Gospel of John. Yeah, the Gospel of John. But this word, you know, one thing I think that helps you get your head around this, and this kind of goes in context with getting old and you think about age, because actually, when Ty was here, he asked me a strange question that of all the questions he asked me, this just seemed kind of weird to me. But he said, look, I got a question. Because he was just peppering me with questions when we studied half the night about various things. But he said, you know, early in the Bible, these people were living like a thousand years. And I said, well, I think Methuselah was the oldest recorded, and what was he, nine something, 62 maybe? And he said, what? What about that? And I was like, what's your question? And he said, well, I did some research. And they basically told me, which I was like, well, Who. Who are they? He's like, well, whoever's running the Internet.
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Jason
Wikipedia, you better just.
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Zach
They were saying there was something wrong with the calendar. And so I said, well, and here's where I started. I just wanted to get your thoughts on it, because where I launched from there, which I thought is a good question, when you think about it, how are these people living this long? And so in First John 1, if.
- [07:59]
Jason
You look up the Greek word for 969.
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Zach
969, that's pretty close. If you look up the Greek word for this word, eternal life, in First John 1, 2. So he's talking about the word of life. We know he's talking about Jesus. And in verse two, he says, the life appeared. We have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. Well, if you look up the word eternal and then do your little Greek lexicon thing. If you look it up. So it's 166 in the Greek lexicon, I'm not going to pronounce. Attempt to pronounce this, which is the Greek word, and then it'll say eternal eternity.
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Jason
By the way, there's 14 times in the book of John that that word appears.
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Zach
But when you look at it, what you'll see is this. It's an age. And so the way the. From my understanding, y' all can clear this up, fill in the details. There's a lot in the Bible about present age and age to come. And sometimes this word is translated in that. And I'll just give you some examples. So like in Matthew 12, Jesus says, this is verse 32. Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit won't be forgiven in this age or in the age to come. And so here, my little AI paragraph, summary of that says, contrasting earthly life with eternity. So even AI is trying to wrap its head around what this concept means, but I'll give you another one. You Remember in Luke 20, 34 and 36, the question was asked in the Resurrection, if a woman had been married seven times, who would be her husband in the afterlife? But listen to what Jesus said. It says, in this age, people who marry is contrasted with those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the Resurrection, who neither marry nor are given in marriage. So he basically says, in the age to come, people will neither marry nor. Nor be given in marriage. Ephesians 1. This is verse 21. Paul speaks of Christ's authority, and it says, not only in this age, but Also in the age to come, referring to power in the present and the future.
- [10:51]
Jason
So we got our Cozy Earth bubble cuddle blankets and gave them to our wives and Jason. Now they're fighting over it at my house.
- [10:58]
Zach
Missy loved hers and she has taken it over in such a way.
- [11:03]
Jason
I thought we would share, but I guess I'm going to have to get me one. There's no sharing.
- [11:07]
Zach
She absolutely loved it.
- [11:09]
Jason
So you don't have other people there? I got more of a compound situation so they're fighting over. But last night we had some friends over because it was Lisa's birthday and a friend of ours, not knowing that Cozy Earth is a sponsor of our podcast, gave Lisa and I for our birthdays that we just both just had a set of of these sheets from Cozy Earth. And he was like, these are the best sheets I've ever had. You're not going to believe how you're going to sleep. And I said, bill, you're preaching to the choir. So. So we're excited. We got another pair of sheets from Cozy Earth from our friend of ours just because he loves them and so do we.
- [11:43]
Al
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- [12:13]
Zach
Now, First Corinthians 2 is where you need to hang out because it's the whole chapter filled with. And I thought we could read this. You can wrap your head around the point I'm trying to make here before.
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Jason
I give you 1st Corinthians 2 or 2 Corinthians 2.
- [12:30]
Zach
I think it's 1 Corinthians 2. Okay, 1st Corinthians 2. Let's read a little bit of that. Are y' all following me? Have I just lost you?
- [12:36]
Jason
Yep. No, no, I'm with you.
- [12:38]
Zach
Okay, so watch what he says in verse 6 of First Corinthians 2. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature. Now watch this phrase. But not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. Which is kind of what John is doing in 1 John 1. This is the same being who came, who was with the Father before the creation of the world outside time and space. Now watch what verse 8. None of the rulers. There it is again of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the man's Spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught to us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths, spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. So my whole point when reading that is, we have the mind of Christ now. We have the Spirit of God now. And you think about verses like Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. So my whole point is the word eternity. When you look it up and you say about this age or the age to come, it's more talking about the quality of the age. So if Jesus is eternal because even though he became a man, he inserted himself in time and he's promising what eternal life? Well, when you go through and read the book of John, remember all those passages like in John 5, where it's like this person has crossed over from death to life. Or even John 3. I think it's 36 where he talks. He uses that verse, that word eternity, when he says 3:36, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. What he's experiencing the age to come, which is eternity, because God is eternal. And if you receive the Spirit, think of like that verse in Romans 8. If the same Spirit is living in you in this present age, he who gave life to Jesus body when he died, the Holy Spirit will Also give life in what, the age to come, life to your body. I said all that to say, to answer this question, when he said, what about these ages? Well, I said, you know, there's passages that kind of explain how the ages went from 900 to 120 to 70 or 80. And those are three passages that say that. So the first one is in Genesis 6, where whatever's happening with the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms and they seem to cohabitate in some way with human women. And that's Genesis chapter.
- [16:58]
Jason
It was, like I said in my summary, we inherited that because that came with the planet.
- [17:03]
Zach
Well, exactly. So the fall of man happens, and as the result of a celestial being that has fallen, the evil one that was in the garden. And then you just go three chapters later, and now there's multiple fallen celestial beings, and they're somehow mating with human women, and it produces giants. But there's an obscure verse in there. Then this is right after Genesis 5, where you see all these people who are living 969 years and 777. Well, and this really encouraged Ty when I read this, because he's like, that's in the Bible. And in Genesis 6, 3, it says, Then the Lord said, my spirit will not contend with man forever, which is this same eternal word of this age to come. And it says, for he is mortal, his days will be 120 years. So whatever the result of this celestial invasion into humanity, God said, okay, I'm not going to let you live for 900 years anymore. It's going to be 120. And I was like, I don't know all the details. I'm just reading you that verse. But evidently. And y' all tell me if I'm wrong. I just wanted to introduce this thought because I think in our study of First John, I want to wrap my head around what this fellowship with eternal life exactly means, not only in this age, but and in the age to come. And so I said, then you get an obscure verse in Psalm 90, which is Moses prayer, recorded in Psalms. And I want to read this because you'll be shocked at how this mirrors what we're reading in First John. And I want to read this. It says Psalm 90, and it says, a prayer of Moses, the man of God. Now this. Think about Moses. Well, he comes later because then you had the flood, which this. Whatever, this carnal spiritual invasion of evil forces with humans, it caused a flood.
- [19:13]
Jason
And the flood basically did away with it. I mean, that was.
- [19:16]
Zach
Well, right. It limited in that capacity. And now we're getting to live 120. So think Abraham and Sarah, they were 190 when they had this baby. Because that goes in with the 120 narrative. Well, now, Moses, who came later, watch what happens here in his prayer. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations, before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the earth and the world. He like first John, he, like Jesus, prayer goes to before creation in this relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And then it says, here's our words, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. Which I looked that up. It's the same concept from the age of this forever age of just you and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to now the age of you, the Son, the Holy Spirit, after creation. That's what that verse means, which is fascinating. But watch what he says. You return men back to dust. Well, up until Genesis 6, you was letting them live here for quite a long time. But you limited that, O sons of men. And then look at this verses here. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has gone by, or like a watch in the night. Well, where is that quoted in First Peter, you remember when he's talking about Jesus coming back in a new heavens and a new earth, and he's like, he doesn't want anybody to perish. For you, like when this happened for you, a thousand years is like a day and a day. So Peter didn't just come up with that. He got that from Psalm 90, trying to wrap his head, what I'm trying to wrap around you, sweep men away in the sleep of death. They are like new grass of the morning, though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is withered, dry and withered. I mean, people are dying. But as a result of a separation from him, from sin, sin has led to death. And you're saying that even though he limited it on how long you'll be here. And then it says, for we are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation, because that was a result of separation of God. It brought death. And God in love is like, this is not how it's supposed to be. So you will be separated from me, and death is a part of that. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins, in the light of your presence. And First John is going to go into that about us confessing our sins as we walk in the light, in Jesus. All right? All our days pass away under your wrath. We finish our years with a moan now here's the kicker. The length of our days is 70 years, or 80 if we have the strength. So I asked Ty, after he asked me this question, I said, you know what the average life expectancy is today? And he's like 72 or 74. And I was like, well, how did Moses know this thousands of years ago that he got it right in the middle?
- [22:31]
Jason
A box showed up at my house and it had my name on it. And I was so excited because it came from the Wild Alaskan Company. And inside that box there were sockeye salmon, there was coho salmon, there was Pacific halibut, there was Pacific cod and Pacific rockfish all in this box. I got old stone to smoke them all. My favorite was probably the Pacific halibut. When I got this from Wild Alaska Company I realized it was the real deal and we loved it. We're excited to have them as a sponsor and a partner. It's 100% wild caught. It's not farmed just like when we used to fish from the river. No antibiotics, no GMOs, no additives, just clean. Real fish shipments are flexible and Wild Alaskan is delivered right to your door in perfectly portioned six ounce packages. If you're not much of a cook, they also give you expert tips as well. It's full of nutrients, it tastes great because it's fresh right off the boat and they lock in the flavor, texture and good stuff like omega 3s. The fish in your combo box varies each month because they only fish for species that are abundant. We love that they want to protect wildlife and sustainability is a huge priority. So if you're not completely satisfied with your first box, Wild Alaskan company will give you a full refund. No questions asked, no risk, just high quality seafood. Not all fish are the same. Get seafood that you can trust. Go to wildalaskan.com unashamed for $35 off your first box of premium wild caught seafood. That's wildalaskan.com unassamed for $35 off your.
- [24:12]
Zach
Yet their span is but trouble and sorrow. We talked about that on the last podcast. It's filled with trouble whether you're in Jesus or not. Still going to have trouble. Who knows? The power of your anger for your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. And the reason I wanted to read this is because in first John this word propitiation comes up with his appeasing God's wrath. The only two places it's brought up in the entire Bible. Well this seems to Fit in with this. You know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and making peace of his anger towards our sin. That was done in love. And he gets to love here in the next couple of verses. Verse 12. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart wisdom. That's why we spent two podcasts talking about wise understanding, wrapping our head around the blueprint of humanity, which is God's wisdom. Relent, O Lord, how long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy in the morning. Look at this with your unfailing love so that we may sing for Joy. Which is first? John 1:4. It's James 1. Consider it pure joy. And watch this. That we may be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord God rest upon us. Establish the work of our hands for you. Yes, establish the work of our hands. And we talked about work and God's. There's two different kinds of work, you know, out there. God created us to be his workmanship, just like he did in Adam. To work the garden, the new creation. We get to do the work of God that he prepared before the beginning of time. Ephesians 2. So that was kind of my answer to that. And he's like, well, that's really blown my head about what eternity is now. So look, so after all of that, he asked me a question. He says, well, wouldn't that mean that we're getting a taste of eternity now? And I said, ty, bingo. I think you've hit on it. He said, and you answered, why? We only live 70 or 80 years. Who knows why, but we at least see that happen through.
- [26:55]
Jason
The Bible says, you know what my go to text is when I used to do a lot of funerals at the graveside, because graveside is kind of an awkward thing. Traditionally, at least around here, you have a service and you preach and then you go to the graveside as well. And so I'm expected as the preacher to say a few words. But Psalm 90 is what I always read in that moment, because we're here to put this body in the ground. And it is a somber occasion for this family and these people that love this loved one. And in that moment, you have to have that reminder that the taste of eternity is here. It looks like this is the end of the story, but it's not, you know, and it's what I always like, because you're right, the Jews had this idea of two eras because you had Jewish history waiting for the Messiah and then the Messiah was supposed to come. But most of it was still all aimed at.
- [27:49]
Zach
Here it was. And that's why it was filled with unfaithfulness on their side, oppression. There were other nations taking over the same ones. These celestial beings had partnered with humans, developed all these other ungodly nations, which is why the world just literally went to hell in a hand basket and resulted in a flood. And then here's Moses coming out from all this frustration and just with the unfaithfulness of human beings, is able to kind of see in there the vision of God and what he's working to do, even down to how many years we're on the, on the planet.
- [28:26]
Jason
Right.
- [28:27]
Zach
So.
- [28:28]
Jason
And the difference, I think what the New Testament writers do and John does for sure is that they add an era is essentially what happens. Because from the mindset of Christianity is you had the era just like the Jewish history, but then you had the Messiah coming, which they're still waiting on. But we said, no, he came, he's here. And when he came, when he left, he sent his spirit here for now us to be able to live in this era with a. I think of it in terms of a portal to eternity. It's like, because you know the New.
- [29:01]
Zach
Testament, I think that's a good way.
- [29:02]
Jason
To look at it because you got this portal. Paul kept calling it a deposit. A deposit. What does that mean? That means something that's given us that's going to expand into something bigger. Right now all we see is the portal and we see the fruit that comes from, from the portal. And then in the post resurrection, upon the final return, we get into the third era and that's the one. Even though they sort of recognized eternity, at least half of them did, the Pharisees did in the Resurrection. I don't think they ever could get away from the idea of ruling on Earth. They never understood that Earth wasn't the final goal, even though it is part of who we are and there's a new heaven and a new Earth. So obviously that portal. You remember the movie Stargate, which I've talked about before, which was just someone made up a movie, but I think it was probably rooted in this, in my opinion. But the idea was, is there was this portal they found that you could then go to this parallel universe that was a lot like our universe. And there you had the Pharisees, the Pharisees, the pharaohs and all this stuff there. And so it was like an explanation. They were really aliens. And you could figure it out in this other world, not our world, but that idea of being able to go in a portal to experience something greater than your own experience, that's what I see the Holy Spirit doing. And that's the part that's been missed by most of our Jewish heritage, is that power that comes from that. And that really was what Jesus said. That's why he continued to tell his disciples, look, it's going to be better for you when I leave, because I'm leaving that little portal, that little ingested part of me in you. And it's going to be available for everyone.
- [30:37]
Zach
And it's like the new creation is already beginning and it's just, it's evolving on the planet. You're getting the glimpse of joy and eternity from spirit filled people and it catches on. It becomes contagious.
- [30:57]
Jason
Yeah.
- [30:58]
Zach
So what did it say you, Zach?
- [30:59]
Al
It's hard because I think we all grew up and a lot of people grew up in an idea that, yeah, eternity was out there. We've talked about it a lot on this podcast. It really has become the anchor of what we're doing here is to redefine what eternal life is from a biblical perspective, that it's here and now. And in the last podcast I was talking about, my wife will say, a lot of wives will say about their husbands that they're directionally challenged, meaning they don't know how to like follow directions or whatever, and they have a destination that they're getting to and they get lost. They can't follow the gps. I think in the church we are directionally challenged in that we don't understand which way this thing is going. We think it's out there, we really do. But the whole context of the scripture is that God is coming and the kingdom is coming and that the Spirit is coming. And when you think about the role of the Holy Spirit in eternal life, he is paramount. I thought about the John 17. Three verse, obviously, as you were going through that whole thing, that's kind of that key point Jesus made. Eternal life is now it's to know the one true God and Jesus Christ his Son, whom he sent. The way that the Spirit works in all of this is that the Spirit now comes in and lives and takes up residence inside of human bodies. So if you are a Christian, then you house the Holy Spirit. So now you start looking at all of that Old Testament stuff and you think about that Tower of Babel, what they were essentially trying to do was build a tower so that they could house God. I mean that's really what the sin was. But they were going to do it on their terms. And so the New Testament restoration of that idea of all that that happened in the divine council falling and overseeing different governments and different movements, it's kind of scary when you start thinking about how real some of this stuff is, the rectifying of that and the antidote to that is going to be spirit filled believers. Now we are like little mini temples just running around expanding out God's presence throughout the whole globe. And to me it's important because it actually puts like a tangible job that the Lord wants me to do. And I think that sits well with me like that God has something that he wants me to do. I'm not just sitting back and spectating at what God's done. God said, no, no, no, I've built the universe in a way that you're actually as a human, you are actually going to be participating in this with me. This is a very participatory thing that I've invited you into. And so you have a role. And your role, Zach, is you're actually going to be a priest. And what it means to be a priest is you're going to protect the garden, the creation that I've made, you're going to expand the garden, so you're going to cultivate the earth like you have, you have a role here. And that role got thwarted at the very beginning of time. And what's happening now is God is calling us back into that. And so whatever we're doing now matters because it's actually a foretaste of glory divine. It's a first fruit. And so for me that gives me like a real understanding and motivation that there's stuff we got to get done here and it matters and this world matters. So I got Max wanting to buy a house right now. Al, you've got a few in your neck of the woods wanting to buy.
- [34:38]
Jason
My oldest granddaughter and her husband little Jersey Joey just bought their first house. And man, just watching it unfold as they're going through the process, it reminds me how hard it is, you know, to try to get a really mortgage company you trust and all the things.
- [34:54]
Al
That you need, especially at first home. And Max called me with questions the other day. I said, hey, well hold on, call Andrew and Todd. These guys will help you out. If you want to know about different financing options, you know, buying a home's a big deal. You know, buying your first property especially is a big deal. And if you feel like you're ready to buy, I'm telling you guys, right now is a good time to act because for the the first time in years we've been talking about a lot on this podcast, buyers finally have the upper hand because there's more inventory on the market, which means you have more negotiating power with less competition. But opportunities, they don't last long because as soon as the Feds cut the rates, which they will, by the way, buyer demand goes up when the, when the Fed rates go down, and you know what that means, prices will go up with it and sellers will then have the advantage. So you can reach out today to get approved for mortgage financing with our friends Andrew and todd@andrewandtod.com or call 888 Triple Eight 1172. We love Andrew and Todd. I met these guys at a worship event in Monroe, Louisiana. And if I'm ever in the market for a property, I promise you, these are the guys that I'm going to call first. It's important to work with someone who shares the same values that you hold. They share our values. They love Jesus. They're trustworthy. These are the guys that I trust with 40 years of experience. They really are the experts and they make it easy because they keep everything in house. So call 888 Triple Eight 1172 or go to andrewandtod.com that's andrewandtod.com.
- [36:14]
Jason
And I like the Jason in the last podcast you mentioned first John 1:4, we were talking about James, but you mentioned it. We write this to make our joy complete, which was in the John context. But just even think about that statement. How could joy be completed in this life if our mindset was always there's no way we can have true joy until after we get into the existence after the post resurrection. Because that's always been the thought, well, you just endure this life. Hope. Hope you can make it through it. Hope you wind up on the plus side and then you'll get all the joy. But that's not what he said here.
- [36:52]
Zach
No, that's why I brought this up by eternal life. Because, you know, I've had trouble just wrapping my head around how to explain first John yeah, and I've noticed these little key words that I think we have always viewed wrongly in that we only think about eternal life when Jesus comes back. But he's writing this saying, you are participating, partnering, fellowshipping with the literal Godhead Right now, don't leave Jesus. Which is a theme. And he made that point there in verse two, which seems, you know, not like a big deal. When he says, the life appeared. We've seen it. We testify, we proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and has appeared to us. But then he says, and our fellowship in verse three is with the Father. Is. It's with him. Well, then when I said, well, what about the other times he brings up this eternal life? Well, in chapter two, in verse 23, which everyone gets here and they start making up all these doctrines about the Antichrist or anti Messiah, to use the Hebrew version of that. And he basically says, no one who denies the Son has the Father because he had just said in chapter one, you're partners with him. How can you deny the Son? Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. And this is all in the context of verse 20, saying, you have an anointing from the Holy One, and we know that's the Holy Spirit. So then he says, verse 24, See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. This is now. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us, even eternal life. And it's almost like he's saying, you don't realize you're experiencing that now, even eternal life now, not something way off. And then at the end, in 1 John 5:13. And the reason I'm making such a big deal about this, because he just flat out says, I'm writing these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have. You possess eternal life. So. So I think you kind of see in that. And this was a long way to say, you know, if this becomes a reality to you now. And it's like, Ty had it right. Are you saying we're experiencing that now? All of a sudden, he was ready to run through that door without opening it, right? Telling anybody an earshot, you can experience this now, all this pain.
- [39:57]
Al
I like the word experience. I mean, because it's. If you think about, like, if. If you are in love with a woman, or if you're a man or a woman, you're in love with a man, and you find the love of your life, and you guys are just head over heels for each other, the relationship of whatever that is, it transcends knowledge about that relationship. And what I mean by that is like, I don't. It's when I'm. When me and Jill fell in love and we were getting married and we're engaged and we want to spend the rest of our life together. Like it was not built. And even now, even more so now that we've been together for almost 25 years. Like, it's. Our relationship is not centered on what we know about each other. We know a lot about each other, but our relationship is actually centered on participation with each other. And so I think the way the big shift that happens when you begin to understand what the Bible's teaching here is that eternal life becomes much more about a participation, like a participatory communion in God's inner triune life. Like, who is God and what is life? He is life. He doesn't just give life. No, he is life. So the invitation to eternal life is not, say, God, give me a cup of eternal life. What you're actually saying is, God, give me you. I want to be with you. And so it's way more relational, which is another way of saying what you said when you said, it's much more about the quality of the life than it is the quantity. The quantity is there because it is on and on and on and on forever and ever. But man. But that could also describe hell. What separates the two is to Al's point in your sermon is that one is qualified by the presence whose presence you're in versus whose presence you're not in.
- [42:01]
Zach
Well, I said all that to say because I think the reason I've had trouble wrapping my head around this is because when we get to verse six through 2:1, then all of a sudden it's just like, well, how can this be? He's like, I'm writing this so that you won't sin. That's in 2:1. Then he also says in verse eight of chapter one, if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves. And I think he was given the platform to say, look, you're like saying, oh, we get to have eternal life. But he's like, you're participating now. So there's some things we need to address here. If you're sitting here claiming that you have this relationship and participation, but you're lying about your own sin and how you're dealing with it, or claiming whether you have it or not, this is silly. I mean, you're going to live with God forever and now you think you're going to hoodwink him, like he doesn't know exactly what you've done when you did it, what you're fixing to do. He's an Eternal being. And so I think that's the trouble with wrapping our head around all this is because, look, we do the same thing in modern day. I mean, how many people go to an assembly? We go to church, we smile, we sing the song, we say a prayer, then we immediately walk out and do something just ungodly. Like all of a sudden we left the presence of God. And I think it's the proper way to wrap your head around this letter.
- [43:30]
Jason
Yeah, there was a story out just this week about a somewhere person who was in the adult film industry that supposedly came to Christ. And that story goes out and everybody's like, oh, man, that's great news. And then she goes right back and continues doing adult films. Adult films. And she's like, but now I'm a Christian. It's like, no, I think you missed that whole point. You can't stay till. So I want to show you this. And you mentioned this last time, Jason, and it proves exactly what we're talking about today. I think about this idea about complete joy. So remember those, those passages in John that you mentioned in the last podcast? You read them. Each one of those are very interesting because they show sort of the evolution, I think, of what we're talking about here, about how the Holy Spirit is the game changer in John 3, 29, 30, which you read before, that's John the Baptist who says that about make my joy complete. And he's testifying about the idea that the bridegroom has now come talking about Jesus. Jesus mentions it in John 15, 9, 12, but that's his testimony about the Father sending him here to make his joy complete. Now I'm here. Then in John 16, he tells the disciples, look, when I leave, I'm going to send you the Holy Spirit to then make your joy complete. So watch. So you're watching the evolution. And then listen to this. This was the capper for me. This is Philippians 4 in verse 10. Where now Paul, who's speaking as people who have the Holy Spirit, here's what he says, and he's talking about himself. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. That's a huge statement because this is at the base of joy. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content. In any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in need, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Now that said, as a spirit led believer is saying that joy can be complete in this life, but it doesn't mean that I'm in a great situation. I could be in wanting or I could be in need, but either way the difference is now I have a spirit, the Spirit of God that lives in me and part of its fruit is joy. No matter what's going on.
- [46:04]
Al
Well, because what does the Spirit do? The Spirit, when He comes, Jesus calls you the spirit of truth. When he comes, he'll guide you into all truth. And then that John 17 passage also says that we're sanctified by the truth. Your word is truth. So when you think about the role of the Holy Spirit, going back to the porn star that you mentioned, that had found, I guess gave her life to Christ, but then goes right back immediately into the pornography, what that says is, is that she doesn't really trust in God. And so belief is trust expressed in life. That's really what it means when we say we put our belief in Christ. This isn't a cognitive acquisition of just that kind of knowledge. It's a different kind of knowledge. I believe I trust in the provisions of Christ. I trust in his ways. And when I do that, what I'm actually saying is I trust that his way will yield joy. And that enables me to actually suffer and go through difficult times. Because if you read what Paul says, that for the joy set before Christ, he endured the cross. So for Christ himself as an example, Christ was able to suffer horrendously on the cross. But the Bible says that what motivated him to be able to do that was that there was some joy that was set before him and that was what enabled him to endure the cross. And in the same way we can endure things because we actually do believe that God's way is better. So it's that that whole desiring God concept that I love that John Piper says that God is most glorified in us when we're most satisfied in Him. So our satisfaction and experience of joy is not on a, on a different track than giving God glory and living for Him. Those are actually on the same exact track. You can't have one without the other because one leads to the other. They're mirror images of each other.
- [48:02]
Zach
Well, and then I think that leads to the new creation, the born again. Because Paul addressed these kind of arguments like you brought up with the porn star it made me think of Romans 5. And you know, the little heading over Romans 5 is Peace and joy. And you start reading, you're like, oh, those are fruits of the Spirit. And he's like, therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And we've gained access by faith into this grace. And then it says, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings. So we're back to that. But that leads to him saying, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. God demonstrates his love. Verse 8. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But the very next chapter, he brings up this argument because he knows what happens in human minds. They're like, what shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? And in one John's context, it's like, oh, we have all this, but are we really sure that Jesus became a man? I mean, okay, this is great, he's given us any trouble, but are we really sure of that? But. But in Paul's case, he then goes to, no, we shouldn't sin. So that grace increase. Which is why John's fixed to launch into that about our sins. If we claim we're without sin, we're a liar. If we confess our sins, it kind of goes back to that Psalm 90. God knows our secret sins and we're now in a relationship with him and it's going to last forever. Let's come on and come out with the truth, since you have the Spirit about what's going on and that's the relationship that works. But then Paul uses that argument in Romans 6. He's like, we died to sin. Don't you know that? All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. And so I've asked that question so many times of people who. They're doing something that's obviously not godly. And they're like, I don't know what the problem is. And I've asked this question so many times, and it's so profound because I always say, well, who died and who did we bury when you surrendered to Christ? I'll say, did you surrender your life to Christ? And it's usually some years ago, oh, yeah, I surrendered to Christ. But now you're Living the exact opposite of what you know to be godly. And we're sitting here on the couch having a conversation. Who did we bury? And that's just always a real profound moment in people's lives because it's echoing what Romans 6 here is saying. And I think it's a good question for everybody to ask. Is this real or not? Are we really having a relationship?
- [51:11]
Al
Do we really believe it? I mean, think about what the spirit's revealing to us. I mean, you had mentioned earlier in this podcast about making the back strap and for Ms. K, and we talked about crawfish pie, you know, in between podcasts. And I was thinking, like, a good analogy would be as if Ms. K is eating Spam. And you're like, hold on, there's a new chef in town. He's right across the road from your house. Just walk over here, and there's this meal that I prepared for you. We've got crawfish pie. We've got the fried deer steak. We've got the best. I mean, this is a table. I mean, this is a spread. There's Joy over here. She says, oh, yeah. She tells all her friends, guys, I got a new chef. Jace is taking over. He's doing all the cooking. I've got a new chef now. But instead of going over there, she just pulls out her Spam and keeps eating it. And you're like, well, I thought. Do you believe in. Oh, yeah, I believe in Jace. He's the cook now.
- [52:07]
Zach
It's everything.
- [52:08]
Al
It's the best food ever. But you're eating the Spam. Do you really? Yeah, I believe that you don't believe that there's a meal over there if you're still eating the Spam. You don't actually believe the revelation.
- [52:21]
Jason
For all our listeners in Hawaii, we're not saying Spam is bad, but what.
- [52:25]
Zach
We'Re saying is backstrap is better. If you eat Spam right after you've eat fried backstrap with a side of crawfish pie, homemade, with the crust that just is hard to describe. It's so good. If that Spam does not make you gag, you're delusional.
- [52:46]
Jason
We just lost Hawaii.
- [52:48]
Zach
It would literally make you vomit. And I think to put in your lifestyle here, you have the spirit and God is using you, and then all of a sudden, you're going to take a break and go eat some Spam.
- [53:00]
Jason
No, I do. I do think you all are both tapped into what John is going to put forth. And I think we've set it up properly because the idea of the Holy Spirit is the difference maker. It's the Paracletus, which we're going to get into in two one, because it's Christ then sending the Spirit to us. And why would you want to go back? Which is Paul's whole point that he makes in Romans 5, 6, and 7. Why would you want to go back? It's not worthy of who you are now. And I think that becomes the picture that we want to do going forward. And he's going to start that next time we come back with this idea that God is light. And Zach, I love what you said earlier. Truth shines light. And once it's lit up, why would you want to go back to the darkness? You know that's not where you need to be. So it does change us. The Holy Spirit is the game changer, because once the portal is open, then there's an understanding of what true light is. Why would you want to live in darkness any longer? Which is going to be John's point.
- [53:54]
Zach
Well, the reason we're going at this at nauseam is because we tend as human beings to make it all complex, and we're all involved in people's lives, and they sit down and they're like, they've heard the gospel. They're like, I just don't know what my problem is. When it all comes down to that passage Zach recited in that prayer, John 17:3, it's like, well, do you believe this or not?
- [54:18]
Jason
Yeah.
- [54:19]
Zach
I mean, because you're acting like it's complex. I don't know. Oh, no, it's pretty clear. It's pretty clear. You're eating Spam, claiming you're eating Spam because you're following the greatest chef.
- [54:30]
Al
Because think about where all of first John's going is really to this thing in 1 John 5 where he says that the commandments are not burdensome. So if I view them as a burden, then that tells me something. I'm missing some part of the story. If you read this, you hear the gospel, you hear what God's calling to you, say, oh, this is a burden. You're missing something very important. Either one, Jesus is lying, or two, you're missing something because the Bible says here, John says that his commandments are not burdensome. So that's the thing we got to start thinking about. And I think that's the whole point of first John is pulling us into this understanding. We can see, oh, wow, they're not burdensome. They're actually the keys to us finding the thing that we want most, which is life.
- [55:14]
Jason
All right, so we're going to get a little bit deeper into this as we go in first, John, so appreciate you being along for the ride. See you next time on Unashamed. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcast. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.